Recently benchmarked on Geekbench was a device labelled "Google Taimen," which many suspect might be one of the several Google Pixel successors Google is set to release soon.
Google Taimen Benchmark
The benchmark, dated Thursday, May 11, is slim on the actual details we want, although some noteworthy points were listed, regardless. Google Taimen, as per the benchmark test, was running Android O, Google's next Android upgrade, which is only available at present via a developer preview. This might suggest that Google's next set of flagships will run with Android O out of the box.
In terms of power, the device was listed with 4 GB of RAM, and an octa-core processor clocked at 1.90 GHz — which is suspected to be the Qualcomm Snapdragon 835. Other noteworthy results involve the single-core and multi-core scores, which came in at 1804 and 6248, respectively. These are high scores by Geekbench's standards.
That's all the benchmark can say about Taimen, at least for now. But its very existence should have fans pretty pleased by now because benchmark results are one of the telltale signs that a device is nearing release.
It's generally believed that Taimen will be a separate device from Google's direct sequels for the Pixel and Pixel XL, although the device itself remains rather much of a mystery. It's still uncertain whether it'll receive a Pixel branding like its siblings will.
As always, take these rumors with a grain of salt, lest you want to end up expecting for something that wasn't planned in the first place. But for guesswork's sake, packing in 4 GB of RAM and a Snapdragon 835 chip makes sense — this'll ensure that Taimen can compete with the Samsung Galaxy S8, the LG G6, and the yet-to-be-announced OnePlus 5. This year is already looking to be an interesting melee of top-tier flagships. We'll let you know when we find out more.
What We Know About Google's Upcoming Flagships
As mentioned above, Google is rumored to be developing not one, not two — but three flagship devices slated for release this year. These flagships have codenames: one is Taimen, and the other two are Walleye and Muskie. The latter two, in particular, is said to be the direct follow-ups to the Pixel and Pixel XL, with Muskie the smaller of the pair.
At this point, it's extremely uncertain what Taimen is exactly for. If the benchmarks prove accurate, then Taimen isn't going to be a midrange device that'll target developing countries, simply because its top-tier specs suggest otherwise. It's all speculation and guesswork at the moment.
Some say that Taimen could be the Google Pixel XXL, the ultra-large version of the three handsets. Because of this, some even speculate that Taimen could actually be a tablet. Releasing a tablet at a time where interest for such a device is consistently waning is probably a risky move. But who knows?
Whatever Google's plans are, it's remaining tight-lipped about it. If nothing else, Taimen's listing is further proof that Google will indeed launch three devices this year.
Thoughts on Google Taimen? Do you expect it to be a Google Pixel XXL or a tablet? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
